No need to call the sitter: bring the whole family along for a lovely day out in Norwich. Whether your child is more the ‘wilderness explorer’ or ‘medieval prince’ type, here are 5 activities perfect for the younger crowd.
Norwich Castle
This is without a doubt one of Norwich’s most famous landmarks, and for good reason. This castle is almost 1000 years old, and has an incredibly rich history: once used as a palace, later as a prison, now it houses an impressive collection of archaeology, natural history, fine art and various exhibits that are sure to captivate visitors of all ages. Check out their website for upcoming events and ticket information.
Norwich Puppet Theatre
Norwich is the proud home of one of the only building-based puppet theatres in the whole of England: the Norwich Puppet Theatre. Housed inside a converted medieval church, the Theatre has been delighting families for over 30 years. Book tickets for Rumpelstiltskin (19 Dec through 3 Jan), which is suitable for ages 3 and up, or the Family Woolly Winter Wonderland (19 Dec), a craft workshop with different activity stations to get the whole family into the holiday spirit!
Jamie’s Italian Norwich
The Royal Arcade dressed in its Christmas finest.
Jamie’s Italian Norwich is the ideal place to refuel and relax during your day out. Situated in the beautiful Royal Arcade (pictured), this family-friendly restaurant features a menu full of mouth-watering Italian cuisine. Plus they’ve got an award-winning kids’ menu that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell
Just a 2 minute walk from the Castle, the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell is another treasure trove of the city’s heritage. Interact with thousands of years of history with beautifully-designed visual displays and engaging audio and video exhibits – a great way to teach your young one all about the city’s rich past. For more information, visit their website here and make sure to check out their events page to read about upcoming attractions.
Pensthorpe Natural Park
About an hour’s drive outside Norwich is Pensthorpe Natural Park, near the quaint town of Fakenham. This beautiful area displays some of the best in British wildlife and has many stunning walking trails. Pensthorpe is also home to WildRootz, an outdoor activity area designed to let children interact with nature in a fun, hands-on, safe environment. They’ve got zipwires, trees ripe for climbing, slide towers, sandpits and much more. So on the next sunny day, bundle up the family and take a trip to Pensthorpe. Read more information on their website here.
Norwich’s fascinating past and its entertaining present make it the ultimate destination for a family day out, no matter how old you are!
Great post, I LOVE Norwich and spent many happy times there as a child on holiday. We went there earlier this year with the Beans and had a great day at Norwich Castle which I wrote about on the blog and we visited Pensthorpe last year which we LOVED and again wrote about on the blog. Norfolk has so much to offer, we will be back again next year 🙂